Who to contact about new kit design concept?

[CaseyK]

I've been making pens/things for just over a year now and that has opened a door into a couple of local wineries. I've been making pens out of their barrels so it's tied into their winery/specific vintage. They have asked me if I know of any pen kit designs that could be associated with the grape industry, something with grapes clusters and vines and such. They think that if there was a grape design, coupled with using wood from the winery barrels (and possibly from vines they pull out) that there would be market. I am not aware of any and my searches have not returned anything like that.

Does a) anyone know of any grape and/or wine related/themed kits, and/or b) who/what company(s) would I talk to about getting such a design going? I know that if there were a substantial market for such a design it would likely be out there but the interest I'm getting from the local wineries suggests there may be a nice little niche market.

Anyway, a shot in the dark. Thanks for any help/suggestions here.

 

[its_virgil]

Have you considered a laser cut blank? Check out kallenshaanwoods.com. Ken has made several custom blanks for me. Just a thought.

 

[duncsuss]

I'd call Ed at Exotic Blanks, I believe he has contracted with kit manufacturers to make specials in the past.

You might consider a design that can incorporate an interchangeable band for the vintage year, grape variety, and such. (That's another thing Ed has experience with.)

 

[Curly]

The Cambridge and a derivative or two have grape vines on the clip and centre bands that fit your needs.

 

[KMCloonan]

If you want ideas about hybrid blanks that use grapevines, you can peruse https://www.etsy.com/shop/WineCountryWoodwork. They make pretty cool blanks out of grapevines. They may have ideas about grape related stuff.

 

[its_virgil]

I've been making pens/things for just over a year now and that has opened a door into a couple of local wineries. I've been making pens out of their barrels so it's tied into their winery/specific vintage. They have asked me if I know of any pen kit designs that could be associated with the grape industry, something with grapes clusters and vines and such. They think that if there was a grape design, coupled with using wood from the winery barrels (and possibly from vines they pull out) that there would be market. I am not aware of any and my searches have not returned anything like that.

Does a) anyone know of any grape and/or wine related/themed kits, and/or b) who/what company(s) would I talk to about getting such a design going? I know that if there were a substantial market for such a design it would likely be out there but the interest I'm getting from the local wineries suggests there may be a nice little niche market.

Anyway, a shot in the dark. Thanks for any help/suggestions here.

You may not like the MOQ.

 

[sorcerertd]

You may not like the MOQ.

This is true. You can get almost anything made if you want to buy a few thousand dollars worth of them. It's a pretty cool idea for a theme, though, as long as it's not overdone.

 

[Kenny Durrant]

I'd try using a Rollerball style pen kit. Use the barrel staves for the pen and cast a logo or something for the cap. Or laser engrave as mentioned earlier.